Since a lot of the places I usually go to keep myself occiped are shut down due to this virus outbreak, I have a bit more time to upload more chapters. And it gives you all something to take your minds off this stressful worldwide crisis. Stay safe and healthy everyone.
Chapter Seven: Sudden Danger
It had become completely silent between the two technological geniuses, Timmy continued to gaze into Tecna's teal eyes and hoped that this wonderful night could stay this peaceful. Then, out of nowhere, a gigantic cannon blast shot the Winx' common room balcony to millions of pieces of debris. Parts of the building and glass from the balcony doors flew in multiple directions as Timmy sprinted into action, as if by impulse. He shielded Tecna, both tucking and rolling out of the way of the blast. As Timmy landed further away from the balcony with Tecna hold tightly in his arms, he heard a loud, agonized cry and his eyes shot open to look down at her.
"Tecna, what is it, what's wrong?" He asked her worriedly, but she continued to groan in pain and not say a word. She knew that she couldn't slow him down, he needed to get her to safety immediately. "It's okay, I got you." He continued when she couldn't respond to his question. Timmy ran out of the Winx dorm room and down the corridor, but not before the rest of the girls ran to see what all the commotion was about.
"Timmy, what happened?" Bloom asked as she and Flora emerged from their shared bedroom.
"Girls, look at our balcony!" Stella cried out, pointing to the damage that was done. The girls turned to see what Stella was seeing and gasped in horror.
"We have to do something!" Flora insisted, and remaining girls transformed into their Enchantix while Timmy continued to run down the hallway to get Tecna to a safer place.
"No." Tecna breathed, trying to ignore the agonizing pain, "The girls are going to get hurt."
"Don't worry, Tecna," Timmy reassured her, "the Electrocutionor doesn't find them as a threat. I hope it's retreated after causing all that destruction." As he ran, he pulled her closer to him as he carried her.
Meanwhile, the rest of the Winx Club flew over the destroyed balcony. Some of the girls ventured around the grounds of Alfea and out to the forest, but nothing was spotted.
"I don't see anything." Layla called out from her place in the forest.
"Nothing here either." Musa shouted from another area, closer to the school.
"And it didn't shoot any more than once, Alfea hasn't been targeted except for our room." Bloom observed as she flew around Alfea's quad to check for more damage.
"Does that mean that as long as it has Tecna in its sight, it'll start shooting?" Stella asked.
"It seems that way, but it could be much more complicated than that." Bloom thought, "Remember that the Electrocutionor is a very advanced piece of Zenithian technology."
"So we should probably ask Tecna what she thinks it's capable of doing?" Flora offered.
"No," Bloom protested, "We don't want to provoke any more fear aside from the fear that she is already experiencing. Although, we can ask King Cryos, since this robot was originally programmed as his security guard."
"What about Timmy?" Musa inquired, "He was working with King Cryos to figure out more about the Electrocutionor, wouldn't he have found something out that we don't know?"
"Maybe, but his mission now is to keep Tecna out of danger, that's his first priority." Bloom told the rest of the girls.
"Okay, so what do you suggest, Bloom?" Layla asked, slightly annoyed by her protests.
"We go to Mrs. Faragonda and try to contact King Cryos ourselves. Even if the Electrocutionor is immune to our magic, we can find a way to keep Tecna out of range of contact."
When Bloom knocked on the headmistress's door, the girls were granted permission to come in.
"Girls, how are things going? Where's Tecna?" Mrs. Faragonda inquired; her voice began to get worried as she scanned the group for the fairy in question.
"Most likely being looked at by nurse Ophelia." Bloom guessed, "I think she got injured during the attack."
"We think the Electrocutionor must have come back to complete its mission." Musa added.
"We need to contact King Cryos, to know how this thing can detect her presence." Layla piped in.
"Shouldn't you girls involve Tecna in this? This is about her after all." The headmistress pressed.
"We don't want to create more fear than there already is," Bloom told her, "and Timmy has more important things to worry about than this. We want them to have the least amount of fear possible, and now that Tecna might be injured, she doesn't have much defense."
"I hope you girls plan to inform them of any information you find." Mrs. Faragonda continued to press, "Just because there is fear looming does not mean they shouldn't be brought up to speed."
"Of course, Mrs. Faragonda." Bloom nodded as the rest of the girls followed. A holographic projection appeared with the King of Zenith's face, shortly after a few moments.
"Girls, has something happened? Did the Electrocutionor attack?" He asked them as horror crossed the expression on his features.
"Tecna's safe, but we think she's been injured." Bloom informed him, "Do you know how the Electrocutionor can detect her presence? We could try to keep her out of the range of danger if we know a little bit more."
"The Electrocutionor is able to detect traces of techno-magic, but when it was first built, it was supposed to determine whether the magic is a threat to me or not. Now it's using this capability to track Tecna's location. If he can still sense her magic, it means he hasn't killed her." King Cryos told them regretfully, lowering his head.
"So how is it able to identify when or where to attack. It didn't attack after it blasted our balcony apart." Stella asked.
"It didn't find you girls as a threat, or even a lead to Tecna's location. That's why it didn't attack you." King Cryos explained, "Its ability to track techno-magic allows it to use sensors to lock in a target's location. If Tecna is still in range, it will continue to attack."
"So, you're saying that she needs to stay away from open areas and openings." Layla asked.
"Yes, it can't detect her if she is in an enclosed space, it would have to blast apart the entire school in order to get to her. It will do that if it can track her."
"Thank you, King Cryos, is there anything else we need to know?" Bloom asked.
"Timmy already knows most of the Electrocutionor's abilities when I sent him the specs." The king said, "Please let me know if there is anything more that I can do. I owe Tecna any assistance I can give." The girls said their good-byes to the King of Zenith as the holographic massager disappeared.
"And thank you, Mrs. Faragonda, for letting us to contact him." Bloom said, turning to her headmistress.
"Yes, anything to help Tecna overcome this threat to her safety, and in turn, the safety of the people of Zenith. It is her responsibility as Guardian Fairy to defend her realm, but she is never alone in this endeavor." With the headmistress's words, the girls were dismissed, and went to find their friend.
Meanwhile, in Alfea's school infirmary, Timmy hastily tried to knock on the door, still with Tecna carried in his arms. In seconds, Ophelia opened the door for him.
"What happened?" She asked as Timmy was finally able to put Tecna down.
"I think we were attacked." He told the school nurse, then turned his attention to Tecna, "Tecna, where are you hurt?"
"My ankle," She was still trying to ignore the searing pain, "I think I twisted it from the impact when we escaped."
"I'll get you some ice." Ophelia left momentarily and returned with an extra pillow and an ice pack wrapped in a cloth. Timmy helped Tecna get comfortable in the bed as the nurse elevated her ankle and placed the cold cloth on it. Just as Tecna was relaxed, the rest of the girls ran in.
"Tecna, are you okay?" Musa asked her.
"I'm fine, I just twisted my ankle. What about you girls?" Tecna inquired.
"We couldn't spot the Electrocutionor, it retreated once you got out of range." Flora told her.
"That's what I was hoping for." Timmy heaved a great sigh of relief at this news.
"So, we went to contact King Cryos and ask how the Electrocutionor can detect your presence, so we can keep you safe." Bloom admitted.
"Girls, I can't just avoid this threat forever." Tecna insisted, "I know something needs to be done, Timmy and I have come up with a plan."
"Oh no Tecna," Timmy suddenly protested, "We need to rethink our plan if you're injured."
"My twisted ankle doesn't affect my ability to fly. I can still miniaturize and access its control panel." Tecna reassured him.
"What if something goes wrong and I can't distract it long enough?" Worry increased in Timmy's voice as he spoke, "At least before, you'd be able to quickly escape, but now…"
"So, what did King Cryos tell you?" Tecna asked her friends, trying to break her boyfriend away from his growing worries.
"He said that when the Electrocutionor was built, it was able to detect traces of techno-magic and determine rather or not it would be a threat to the king's safety. Now that it's gone rouge, it's programmed that same ability to detect if you are still alive, and your location." Bloom informed her gravely.
"So, the Electrocutionor knows where Tecna is right now?" Timmy questioned in absolute horror.
"Yes, but the king also said that it can only attack if Tecna is in range. She can't be in open spaces or near places where she can be visible."
"In that case, I suggest that Tecna stay in the infirmary tonight." Nurse Ophelia interrupted, "To make sure her ankle gets treated properly. If she is in more danger staying in the dorms, she'll need to move quickly, and we can't have that right now. You girls go back to your room, and we're figure out what to do." The rest of the girls agreed, some more hesitantly than others, and left. Tecna began to feel frustrated, she and Timmy had worked out a plan of action, and in mere minutes, it needed re-analyzing.
"Timmy, we have to go through with our plan, whether I'm injured or not." She insisted, "The safety of Zenith is at stake and I was assigned the job of guardian fairy for a reason."
"Even King Cryos thinks that was a mistake." Timmy replied, "This is the reason why the Electrocutionor is after you in the first place. You are the king's successor and will carry on his duties if anything happened to him. With you out of the way, it can destroy Zenith."
"Exactly," Tecna pressed, "it's because I'm the guardian fairy that this needs to be done. I know it's hard for you as my boyfriend to face this, but you also promised me that you'd stay by me no matter what, and that I'd survive. I don't know how you'll keep that promise, but I trust you."
"Yes," He admitted with a sigh, "I did promise you those things, and because I promised you, we'll carry out our original plan. But be careful, okay."
"I love you, Timmy." Tecna sighed as he pulled himself closer to her, and she managed to twist himself over enough to wrap her arms around his neck and kiss him passionately. She knew that his determination to keep her safe would stop anything.
And as a side note, since Italy has been hit the hardest, what do you think the future will look like for our favourite fairy team..., it's scary to think about but true.
